NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette took a break from the affiliates dinner tonight at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to meet with reporters before the Winter Meetings officially get under way. The Orioles remain in the market for a hitter, whether it's left-handed or right-handed. Power is a requirement. And it could be first base, left field or designated hitter. "Our agenda at the Winter Meetings is to try to find a hitter," Duquette said....

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In an interview earlier this week on MASN's "The Mid-Atlantic Sports Report," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said contracts talks with free agents Nate McLouth and Joe Saunders were moving at a slow pace. But tonight, when asked during a video interview with MASNsports.com if he sensed any progress in talks with the pair in recent days he said, "Well, I think they're on a good track." "We like both Nate and Joe," he added. "They did a great job for...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Welcome to 2012 version of baseball's Winter Meetings: The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is an overwhelming maze of corridors, two million Christmas lights, restaurants and shops. Visitors can ride a showboat down the Cumberland River, visit the Holly Jolly Town Square, take a carriage ride or check out the two million pounds of ice sculptures with the theme of "Shrek the Halls." And, of course, a visitor can walk anywhere and get into a baseball...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The size of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center hasn't been exaggerated. It's like a small town. Actually, it's like a regular town. There's nothing small about this place. I'm carrying two maps with routes highlighted to the media workroom and my hotel room. I've gotten lost multiple times. An elderly woman walked me to an elevator after I checked in, because it was easier than repeating her directions, and another one steered me back to the main...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Since there's a dearth of left-handed relief pitching available on the free agent market, the Nationals are going to have to be creative when finding southpaws to round out their bullpen. Sean Burnett is angling for a four-year deal, which only works against his return and complicates general manager Mike Rizzo's to-do list at the Winter Meetings. Right now, the prospects of Burnett re-signing and the available left-handers present a bit of a conundrum for the Nationals....

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - My flight out of BWI this morning was delayed nearly two hours, getting my 2012 Winter Meetings off to a stellar start. The fun began early this year. I'm now all checked into my hotel and set up here at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, the site of the meetings. Only a little over 12 hours until things really start getting under way. There are a number of free agent starting pitchers on the market who could be in play for the Nationals in the coming days...

I'm off for Nashville, where the weather is warmer than D.C., and the hot stove is certain to get toasty, as well. I've been to the Winter Meetings the last three years, but this will be my first as a beat writer. I'm looking forward to countless baseless rumors, having my phone glued to my hand for four straight days and trying to navigate my way through the massive Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, where the meetings are being held. Can you taste the sarcasm? In all...

I'm hearing that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are looking to make a comeback, and the Orioles are in on all of them. Sorry. Just practicing for the Winter Meetings, where the ridiculous is sold as reality. Scouts and general managers will attach some of the biggest names to the Orioles because, well, it makes sense to them. Not because they're hearing it directly from the Orioles. Not because they've paid attention to executive vice president Dan Duquette, who keeps saying...

The Orioles' decision to designate reliever Stu Pomeranz for assignment and allow him to become a free agent was related to a back injury that will require surgery. The club is in the process of arranging the surgery for Pomeranz, according to an official. He won't pitch in 2013. The injury involves a vertebrae in Pomeranz's lower back and is considered pretty serious, according to another member of the organization. However, the Orioles could choose to re-sign him to a minor league...

Mike Boulanger has completed his first season as the Orioles' minor league hitting coordinator. I spoke with him recently to review how things went in 2012 for O's minor league batters overall. We talked about that in articles that were published earlier here and here. I also asked Boulanger to comment on a few specific players. Ty Kelly, in 133 games between three clubs, batted .327 with 11 homers, 70 RBIs and an OPS of .892. "He was third in the organization in runs, RBIs and batting...